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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Magus Coeruleus" data-source="post: 1048360" data-attributes="member: 1704">It's pretty confusing having to follow the chain, but Wildshape is like Polymorph except as noted (PHB 37), and Polymorph is like Alter Self except as noted (PHB 263).Based on this, I think some things raised in the thread become a bit clearer.  For instance, you retain your normal hp, not adjusted on the basis of your new Con score.  This is explained in the Alter Self spell description and is not overriden by anything in the Polymorph or Wildshape descriptions.To calculate attack bonuses, you subtract the creature's base attack bonus (BAB) from its attack bonuses and add your own BAB back in.  For example, a Black Bear has a BAB of +2 and attacks at +6 (+6/+1 when making a full attack).  Subtract the BAB out and you get +4 or +4/-1.  If you are a level 5 Druid you have a BAB of +3, so adding that back in you get +7 or +7/+2.  If the creature has Multiattack, you get it too, but you don't really need to think about it, because whatever you see in the animal's stat block is what you get, minus its BAB, plus your own.What's NOT clear to me is whether you gain the ability to breathe water or hold your breath for long periods, as Argent claims.  I can't find anything of the sort in the books, but I might be missing it and would appreciate a cite.  It would be a travesty if a druid couldn't turn into a shark because he'd drown in water.  I would assume, by the way, that in exchange for waterbreathing as an aquatic animal, you would lose your ability to breathe air until you change back and would "drown" if removed from water unless you did change back.Also not clear to me is whether you can freely take the form of animals (or in the case of a standard Polymorph, other creatures) who are more advanced, as Sithramir asked.  I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't be able to take the form of a more advanced creature so long as the HD of the advanced creature neither exceeds your Druid level nor bumps the creature into a size category beyond your ability, but I'd be interested to hear other opinions.</blockquote>

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